SFO to investigate corruption allegations at British American Tobacco

The Serious Fraud Office has confirmed it is investigating allegations of corruption at British American Tobacco, the third notable statement of intent it has made since the Conservative party’s election manifesto pledge to abolish it.

In a notice published today the SFO said it was investigating ‘suspicions of corruption in the conduct of business by BAT plc, its subsidiaries and associated persons’.

BAT is accused of making illegal payments to politicians and civil servants in East Africa. The allegations were made in a BBC Panorama documentary originally broadcast in 2015. The BBC spent five months investigating and was shown documents purporting to show payments to politicians and rival company workers.

In a statement published today BAT said: ‘We are investigating, through external legal advisers, allegations of misconduct. We have been cooperating with the SFO and BAT has been informed that the SFO has now opened a formal investigation. BAT intends to cooperate with that investigation.’

In the week’s following the Conservatives’ manifesto pledge to merge the SFO with the newer National Crime Agency, the office has also opened an investigation into mining group Rio Tinto and brought fraud charges against former Barclays executives over their fundraising arrangements in Qatar.